A maker of vessels, tableware, objects and jewellery in silver, shaped from sheet or cast, then soldered and finished.
A silversmith makes functional and decorative silver objects, including vessels, tableware and jewellery. A hollow vessel can begin as flat sheet, gradually shaped with hammers and supporting stakes, with heat used between stages of working. Separate components can be soldered together before the surface is finished. Chasing and engraving add surface detail, while polishing changes the final appearance. The craft therefore involves both constructing an object and controlling its surface. Silver polishing is one related workshop operation, but experience refinishing an existing piece alone does not establish the full range of a silversmith’s forming and construction skills.
In job listings
Silversmith is a less common title in listings than jeweller. Where it appears, check the balance of objects and jewellery in the job, along with how much of the work is making rather than repair. Search local jobs for “jewellery”.
